If the selection process involves a specific event, the start of the selection process commences approximately four months prior to any event that requires the formal nomination process.

The AFF will issue a call for nominations which may be open or closed (i.e. there is a restricted set of potential athletes), based on the event (if any) and the athletes involved.

Approximately two weeks after the opening of nominations, nominations will close. Unless otherwise specified, the nomination closing date will also be the rankings date for the purposes of selection.

If the event is an Early Closing Event (as defined in the Selection Policy), early selections will be made in accordance with the provisions of that policy, as at the date which is 30 days before the start of the event. The relevant provisions are A4.27 to A4.31 (individual) and A4.39 to A4.41 (team).

In the case of any other Category E competition under the Selection Policy, where the number of nominees does not exceed the limit (if any) of Australian entries on the day after nominations close, all nominated athletes will be deemed to be selected to individual events, subject to any "good standing" requirements of the AFF. Similarly, if there is a Team event immediately following the Individual event, and the number of nominees does not exceed the limit of number of places to fill the Team entry or entries, all nominated athletes will be deemed to be selected to the team(s) one month prior to the event.

In the event that a selection process is required, on the day after nominations close, the nominations will go to the Selection Commission who will apply the Selection Policy to make a selection. Selections made by the Selection Commission will then be passed to the Board for ratification.

Once selections have been made and ratified, the Board will inform the successful and unsuccessful nominees, and will process nomination deposit refunds for unsuccessful/withdrawn nominees as per the Fees and Charges web page.

For relevant competitions, the names of successful nominees will be published on the AFF's web site. Unsuccessful nominees who have been identified as non-travelling reserves may also appear on the website article, with "(NTR)" next to their names.

As per A4.22 of the Selection Policy, where the selection process is for a category of the Australian Fencing Team (AFT), and there are additional places available, members of the Australian Fencing Squad will be invited to nominate for the AFT as a closed nomination, and steps (2) - (7) above will be followed. No additional nomination deposit is required from invited AFS athletes.

If it is deemed necessary to have a further round of nominations for any purpose, the timing and processes for that further round of nominations will follow steps (2) – (8) above (as applicable), and may be subject to a late nomination fee.

Athletes should note that the Selection Policy is largely driven by rankings and AFT/AFS membership, which are only able to be assessed at the time of selection. A subsequent change of rankings and/or AFT/AFS membership does not - in itself - invalidate selections that have already been made. The effective date of any Selection is the closing date of nominations. Once selected, an athlete cannot generally be de-selected unless this is part of a sanction (eg under the Disciplinary Policy, or a breach of an Athlete Agreement), or through an event such as injury.

Fencers should also note that regardless of whether their weapon has possibly higher ranked fencers or no vacancies from the current or from a previous round of selection for the same event, nominations will still be accepted. The reasoning for this is that (as per all similar nominations / selections), fencers should never make assumptions about other athletes’ ability to actually compete in an event. We have - in the past - had athlete withdrawals from events due to a variety of authorised and valid reasons, which has then necessitated a non-travelling reserve to step in (subject to time constraints).

Athletes should also note the documentation generally regarding overseas events under Competitions / Overseas Events and the process for entry (click here).

[An Operational Protocol is information about the process by which the AFF generally makes decisions and undertakes its operations. It is designed as a matter of governance and transparency so that stakeholders in various decisions may inform themselves as to how decisions are usually made and operations undertaken. An Operational Protocol is not policy, and cannot be subject to appeal.]